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<p>DURYEA &#8212; Nearly 150 residents came out to Main Street Saturday for the first-ever Holiday Stroll.</p><p>The event featured 22 Christmas trees stationed outside Main Street businesses, holiday music, raffles, a children&#8217;s craft table, a performance by the Phoenix Performing Arts, demonstrations by Rothrocks Kung Fu, hay rides and a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus and Frosty the Snowman.</p><p>Many area businesses &#8212; including Family Prescription Counter, the American Legion, Bronzed Buns, Rothrock Kung Fu and My Sister&#8217;s Kitchen &#8212; were open, providing guests a chance to step in and see what services and products are available.</p><p>Many businesses also had a red bucket for participants to drop off raffle tickets to win an undisclosed prize, said Trina Moss, an event organizer.</p><p>The two-and-a-half-hour event began at 4:30 p.m. and was a cumulative effort among the Duryea Christmas Committee, borough officials, Germania Hose Company and Main Street businesses, Moss said.</p><p>&#8220;The Germania Hose Company donated the trees,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Duryea Mayor Keith Moss borrowed the idea from nearby Old Forge.</p><p>&#8220;I did invite the mayor from Old Forge,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The overall goal was to provide an old-fashioned holiday atmosphere to the town, said Leigh Ann Balchune, an event organizer.</p><p>&#8220;We have a great little town here,&#8221; Moss said.</p><p>Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on a fire truck in time to light the Christmas tree outside the borough building.</p><p>Students at the Phoenix Performing Arts presented a scene from &#8220;A Christmas Story&#8221; outside the municipal building.</p><p>Children with hot chocolate mustaches ran around with friends, neighbors chatted and business owners greeted familiar and unfamiliar faces.</p><p>Chris Hampel, owner of Family Prescription Counter, ran out of coloring books for the children, so he opted to give away candy bars.</p><p>&#8220;I have seen many new faces,&#8221; Hampel said. &#8220;This is great.&#8221;</p><p>Children also gave the event a thumbs up.</p><p>Molly Lapsansky, 9, of Duryea, enjoyed holiday music by the Independent Bible Church Choir.</p><p>Twenty-one-month-old Nicky Zbylicki, of Duryea, showed off his dance moves during the choir&#8217;s performance but also liked meeting Santa.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Lucas Hull, 8, and Gavin Werner, 6, both of Duryea, make &#8216;reindeer food&#8217; during the borough&#8217;s first-ever Holiday Stroll Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_20151212_165610-1-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Lucas Hull, 8, and Gavin Werner, 6, both of Duryea, make &#8216;reindeer food&#8217; during the borough&#8217;s first-ever Holiday Stroll Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Eileen Godin | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_20151212_170135-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Santa and Mrs. Claus visit with children and pose for pictures during Duryea Borough&#8217;s Holiday Stroll Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_20151212_170135-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Santa and Mrs. Claus visit with children and pose for pictures during Duryea Borough&#8217;s Holiday Stroll Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Eileen Godin | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_20151212_174149-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Holiday Stroll held in Duryea featured 22 Christmas trees placed outside Main Street businesses. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_20151212_174149-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>The Holiday Stroll held in Duryea featured 22 Christmas trees placed outside Main Street businesses. </caption2><photoCredit2>Eileen Godin | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Eileen Godin</p><p>egodin@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Duryea Borough strolls into the holidays